A Positive 2006 Achievement Thread

[epona]

There seems to be a few threads lately where people are feeling down or dissillusioned with thier riding :(   I imagine that as people are on this forum they are naturally trying to do the best for thier horse and also improve thier riding and at times this can lead to frustration :bash:

I think sometimes as we strive to improve and have the 'finished product' in our head we can forget how far we have come on our journey  

I thought it would be nice to share at least ONE positive thing we have all achieved this year, even if it sounds only a small thing - these are usually the most significant at the time! (like the first canter, solo ride etc)

It is easy to get down and thinking you are the worst rider / owner etc so I thought it might be nice for us all to think about what has made us feel GOOD this year and inject some positive thinking into the dreary old winter

I'll start then:

This time last year I couldnt trot my horse, it was a disaster and seriously dented my confidence until I was suffering from panic attacks each time I rode :(   With some help I am now able to TROT!!!  This increased my confidence and gradually this year I have hacked alone, cantered on hacks and done a few competitions   I never dreamed I would be able to do so much this year and even though they sound such simple achievements they have been pivotal to increasing both mine and my horses confidence this year.
So when I get   about my riding at times - I think back and remember that 1 year ago I never thought Id get this far

Looking forward to hearing all your 'little breakthroughs'    

[twinkle11]

what a grat thread vicky

well done with your achievments :thup: you have done brilliantly with antsje and you sould be really proud of yourself

well my biggest achievment was to to get amber out so i have done 3 fun rides and a dressage test (only walk and trot) but it was brilliant and ashe was a little        

last year i wouldnt even hack out alone let alone canter at a fun ride and we have also bonded really well this year  

[silverflute]

what a lovely idea for a thread.
Mines not about "posh" riding but it made me feel good.
I've been going to trail ride in Wales quite a lot - mainly to the same place.
When you've passed muster with the trail leader (a vastly experienced 70 year old, still riding 6 days a week :blink:) he picks you out to help.
This last time I was sent cantering off on my own to do the gates and I got to lead the whole group at the canter when we reached to the top of the ridge. Felt quite proud
Did let myself down later on when I couldn't get back on from the ground :lol:  :lol:  

[paulam]

mine is backing my pony. Never backed a horse before.

OK, I put a small child up there as I'm way too heavy for him, so i suppose technically I didn't back him, Shannon did.

what I'm proud of is the way it went - another day at the office for Remy - completely and utterly unfazed by the whole event. Bit unbalanced at first, but after a couple of days confidently striding round the yard with Shannon on bareback.

It's made me realise I can prepare a horse to take a rider and it be completely stress free. It's something I never thought I'd do.

love my little pony - he's a star. If he was just 2 hands taller.............. :(  

[chapsi]

Great thread Vicky! :thup:

I have lots of mixed feelings about myself, but weighing all the happenings, I'm well on the mend! Maybe one day I'll become the rider I once was in terms of confidence.
Also, this has been a very full year in terms of equestrian related matters.

1. I sold my mare to the most wonderful home. Rija finaly found her OH in terms of human partner. The day I met Helen, I thought how alike they were, even physically.

2. The following day from seeing Rija off, I was viewing a hyper, rockety horse, riden by a young bold 'lunatic' at night time. I wasn't the least impressed; he had been advertised as 'calm', 'affectionate' and a 'confidence giver'.  <_<
A month after, on a 6 month trial agreement, I was taking the plunge and little unicorn arrived into my life, at a new yard for both of us.  
This was to be the beginning of a new adventure.
We have been together for 7 months now, and FINALLY I realise how important he is to me.
Only now, I feel that he has a leading role in my heart, and Pégaso finally rests in peace.  

3. I thouroughly enjoyed attending a 5 day Join-Up course in Southern Portugal.

4. I'm progressing heaps and bounds in riding terms. I'm far more confident handling horses in the ground; no more hang-ups or traumas caused by Pegs biting vice. I can relax and I can be me, even around the stallions. In fact, I think I prefer stallions... being around them in such a manner makes me think that I'm not so c**ap afer all... :lol:
Most important, I've been overcoming my fears and confidence issues. I'm a much better and able rider learning according to the basis of our traditional horsemanship; I can ride alone indoors with no anxiety; I can ride in the outdoor school and I am going out for a short walk outside the gate and into the training field. Months ago this would hae been literally impossible!

In short, I don't have to feel innadequate, weird :alien:  inferior to everybody else or simply  :stupid:

I'm on the mend... and I musn't forget to THANK YOU EVERYBODY, YOU HAVE BEEN WONDERFUL TO ME; CARING AND SUPPORTIVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
   

[Jennifer]

Ooh, I love this thread!  It's great to read about each of your accomplishments, and I completely understand how even the ones that may seem small are actually huge as they relate to confidence, joy, progress, etc.

There have been many thrills this year for me with getting Fantasia ready to be started.  Tasia can be a hot little firecracker, but she has handled each new step so beautifully and without concern, and that fills me with joy.   I'm so grateful for Michael (trainer), because he comes out twice a month, and that helps me to feel like I'm heading in the right direction with her on all those days in between lessons.   Every step has been smooth with Tasia - groundwork, lunging at liberty and having her stick to me like glue, long-lining from the cavesson, progressing to long-lining off the bit, having her wear her saddle, sitting on her bareback, practicing mounting, and finally taking a few steps of walk.  Now I've walked her around the arena, and Michael has trotted her and allowed her to canter when she wanted - so Tasia had her first canter under saddle last Thursday!  It was beautiful and balanced.   I can't wait to ride that canter!  But the most wonderful thing is when she's worried about something, she comes to me and rests her head against my belly and finds it comforting.  

~Jennifer
 

[sandpiper]

One positive moment was long lining my 3 year old filly with a bit in!  She is a very sensitive soul prone to panicking and you have to take things VERY slowly with her, and make sure she accepts everything 100% before you move on.  She has always had a tendency to rear whenever she is worried and the previous year when I bitted her she threw herself over backwards as soon as she felt the slightest contact on the bit (on the lunge, with VERY loose side reins).  She would not even let me put my fingers in the bit rings without reacting.

So it was with some trepidation when I started to start long line her!  First of all I put the bit in with her headcollar over it, and long lined her off the headcollar.  She has never been long lined before but after a few seconds confusion she walked off like an old pro!  I then clipped the lines onto bit ring and headcollar, expecting fireworks but nothing - off she went again.  Finally I transferred the lines to the bit rings, and hey presto, she was a star!  She walks, trots, halts, backs up and even does figures of eight and I have only longlined her three times in total.

I don't do much with my two fillies as I never seem to have the time but I am so pleased with Olivia as she is a real challenge.

[epona]

Awwww - its so nice to hear of everyones happy stories   What a year we have all had!

and I musn't forget to THANK YOU EVERYBODY, YOU HAVE BEEN WONDERFUL TO ME; CARING AND SUPPORTIVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Couldnt agree more Maria - this forum has been my lifeline at times :blush:

MORE MORE MORE :lol:  :lol:
 
 

[Mandeigh]

positive.....mmmm lets see, Roh was working not bad at all this year, when I got time to ride  

but more of my achievements were work related...an I allowed to talk about those?

[Cobstar]

1.  We found out what was causing the problems under saddle with my cob mare.  We tried to manage the issues but couldn't so decided to retire her.  But at least we know what the issues are and I still have my mare. Every day has been a bonus since she had colic surgery 3 years ago.  She's my soul mate and I love her to pieces.

2.  Somehow - thanks to my ever generous husband - I've ended up with a new  horse too - a beautiful, well-bred Danish warmblood youngster.  And the YO has kindly let me turn my cob out 24/7 with her outdoor mares - very generous of her as it is a full livery yard.  So I'm able to keep both girls on the same yard.

3.  I've managed to complete a 60 point Level 2 OU course - just waiting for the results of the end of course assessment but I've done OK on the coursework.

I think 2007 is going to be a great year for all of us to further our equestrian dreams.  I am determined to progress my personal journey which has been intermittently on hold over the last three years due to health issues with my cob.  I'll continue to aim for my dream of being able to ride and train to high school level - well there's no harm in setting challenging goals  :lol:  

[epona]

an I allowed to talk about those?

Absoloutely!!!!  Tell, tell...........  

[toni]

What a lovely idea for a thread!

Well, my year started well, I sent Grace to be backed by a fabulous lady and she came back happy and confident and we were going to have a Summer of learning .... until a week later when she was struck down by the dreaded Strangles    :ouch:

I was initially devastated but, once Grace got better, and I moved her to a field where she could live on her own, I decided to look on the positive side and work on our personal 'relationship' instead of the riding one.

After six months of nursing her and spending all my time with her I can honestly say I have never felt closer to a horse. We    each other!!! We have done heaps of ground work and clicker training and mutual grooming (I was her horsey substitute!!) which we possibly would not have done if we were concentrating on 'working'.

So, my positive is that my horsey loves me and I'm sure also knows that I was there for her during her illness and isolation.

I am looking forward to next year when we can start to work together again and I hope that the trust we have now built up will go towards our riding  

Ooooooh, I feel alll warm and fuzzy reading that back! I   my horsey!!

Oh, and now I have two extra little monkeys to love and cherish too!   :lol:  

[NickeringNotions]

Hmm...I got on my horse by myself... :lol:  

[1 morejump]

Well, I finally got to the root of Lance's problems, they all stem from his club foot.  And I am thankful that we can fix it   but not thankful that I have to pay for it.  :unsure:    

[epona]

Hmm...I got on my horse by myself...

Hey missus- thats a HUGE achievement!!!  Last year I made excuses not to get on, when I did I had to have someone there for moral support and then STILL could barley breathe, my chest got so tight   I promise you as time goes along you will achieve your goals and more!!  I am sure there must be other things you have done this year that made you feel really happy   Its the little things that usually mean the most :blush: